GSSM Students Engage in First-of-its-Kind Service-Learning Experience in Guatemala

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (May 1, 2025) — Twenty-four students and three employees from the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) recently returned from an immersive service and global learning experience in Guatemala, held April 19–27, 2025. The trip marked the first time a high school group collaborated with MEDLIFE on a service-learning project in the country.

“Our partnership with MEDLIFE has allowed us to offer an outstanding global learning experience that includes meaningful service for students interested in medicine and health-related careers,” said Randy LaCross, senior vice president for outreach and global initiatives. “I’m proud of what our team learned while serving in Guatemala and the many lives they impacted through their service.”

During their time abroad, the GSSM team traveled to Antigua, Guatemala, to learn firsthand about healthcare access and delivery in a developing region. Students actively participated in mobile medical clinics, assisting in efforts to provide essential healthcare services to underserved communities. In addition to their work in the clinics, students completed a service project and explored Guatemalan culture through educational and community engagement activities.

The participating students included:

Elizabeth Aniello, Haashini Baskaran, Jordyn Boulet, Annie Chen, Lily Cho, Gabrielle Dutterer, Marissa Eckard, David Floyd, Snikitha Garapati, Joseph George, Sarah Cate Henderson, Yo Lai, Samuel Lewis, Jean Lim, Yuri Ma, Alyssa Norgaard, Tessa Paison, Priya Patel, Janki Patel, Gracyn Ross, Ava Shockey, Ruofei Wang, Calliope Williams, and Dustin Zheng.

The team was led by Grayson Gibson, research and global initiatives coordinator, with support from biology faculty member Dr. Valeria Avanzato, and lead nurse and coordinator of health services Patti Greene.

As active members of the GSSM MEDLIFE Chapter, many students on the trip aspire to become healthcare providers in South Carolina. The experience offered critical insight into the challenges and innovations of healthcare systems in developing areas — lessons that will guide them as they pursue careers in medicine and health-related fields.

“It was great to see our students’ passion to serve others and their desire to help contribute to a solution for one of the most challenging global issues,” said Gibson. “I am so thankful to have students that would choose to spend their spring break in service to others, and to take advantage of this opportunity to continue learning, growing, and expanding their horizon. This was a global experience that had a tremendous impact on each student in so many ways.”

“It was an extraordinary shift from the traditional classroom,” said Avanzato. “Whether working on clinic days, building stoves, or climbing a volcano, roles blurred as we learned from one another, faced challenges, and discovered the power of empathy, collaboration, and gratitude. The group engaged in hands-on projects that had an immediate, tangible impact on local communities. It was more than just service or applying classroom knowledge—it was about building meaningful relationships, confronting reality—both ours and others’—and experiencing a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. To say I’m proud of these kids would be an understatement.”

Reflecting on the experience, Marissa Eckard, a junior at GSSM, described the emotional impact of working with patients who had waited months or even years for medical care. “It made me even more grateful for our access to healthcare and education and inspired me to be part of expanding that access for others,” she said.

Eckard recalled meeting a teenage mother with six children who couldn’t afford to send them to school — a moment that underscored the harsh realities many Guatemalans face. She also noted the resilience and positivity shown by patients despite illness and pain, adding that the experience has deepened her commitment to serving communities in need.

Beyond direct student impact, the trip supports GSSM’s broader educational mission. Staff members who participated will use the knowledge gained to inform future global learning experiences offered through the GSSM Center for Science Education and Outreach.

From research to robotics to service abroad, GSSM students are always doing something extraordinary—see more at scgssm.org/student-life/clubs-activities.